Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-05-04
9 Serial Storg.
j E = g.
BY III. RIDER HAGGARD,
AUTHOR OF KING "soLoMON's MINES,
'sHE," ETC, ETC.
CHAPTER III.
MR.. FRANK MULLER.

John Mel woke early next morning, leeunS
as sore and stiff as though he had been well
beaten and then strapped up tight in horse
girths He made shift, however, to dress
himself, and then, with the help Of stick,
hmped through the French windows that
opened from his room on to the veranda and
surveyed the scene before him. 1t was de-
lightful spot. At the back Of the house was
the steep, bowlder strewn face of the fiat
topped hill that curved round on each side,
embosoming great slope Of green, in the lap
of which the house was placed. The house
itself was solidiy built Of brown stone, and,
with the exception OF the wagon she'd and
other outhouses, which were rooted with gal
vanized iron that shone and glistened in the
rays Of the morning sum in way that would
have made an eagle blink, was covered with
rich brown thatch. All along its front ran
wide veranda, up the trellis work Of which
green vines and blooming creepels trailed
pleasantly, and beyond was the broad car
riage drive of red soil, bordered with bushy
orange trees laden with odorous flowers and
green and golden fruit. On the farther side
OF the orange trees were the gardens, fenced
in with low walls Of rough stone, and the
orchard full Of standard fruit trees, and
beyond these again the oxen and ostrich
kraals, the latter full Of long necked birds.
To the right of the house grew thriving
plantations Of blue gum and black waffle,
and to the left was broad stretch Of culti-
waited lands, lying so that they could be irri-
gated for winter crops by means Of water led
from the great spring that gushed from the
mountain side high above the house and gave
its name Of Mooifontein to the place
All these and many more things John Mel
saw as he looked out from the veranda ut
Mooifontein, but, for tho moment at any
rate, they were lost in the wild and wonderful
beauty Of the panorama that rolled away for
miles and miles at his feet, till it was ended
by the mighty range Of the Drakensberg to
the left, tipped here and there with snow,
and by the dim and vast horizon Of tho swell
ing Transvaal plains to the right and far liz
front Of him. It was beautiful sight, and
one to make the blood run in mans veins and
his heart beat happily because he was alive
to see it. Mile upon mile Of grass clothed
veldt beneath, bending and ripping like
corn field in the quick breath Of the morning,
space upon space of deep blue sky overhead
with ne'er cloud to dim it, and the swift
rush of the wind between. Then to the left
there, impressive to look on and conducive to
solemn thoughts, the mountains rear their
crests against the sky, and, crowned with the
gathered SHOWS Of the centuries whose mQnr-
ments they are, frorn econ to aon gaze majes-
tically out over the witls plains and the
ephemeral, ant ike races that tread them, and
while they endure think themselves the mas
ters of their little world. And over all
mountain, plain and flashing stream-the
glorious light Of the African sun and the
spirit of life moving now as it once moved
upon the darkening waters
John stood and ge0ed at the untamed
beauty of the scene, in his mind comparing it
to many cultivated views that he had known,
and coming to the conclusion that, however
desirable the presence Of civilized man might
be in the. world, it could not be said that his
operations really added to its beauty. For
the old line, Nature unadorned adorned the
most, I" still remains true in more senses than
one. Presently his reflections were inter-
withstanding his age and bent frame, still
rang firm enough-aud he turned to greet
him.
@Well, Capt Mel" said the old man, aup
already! It looks well if you mean to take
to farming. Yes, it's q pretty view, and
pretty place, too. Well, I made it. Twenty
five years ago rode up here and sow this
spot. Look, you see that rock there behind
the house, slept under it and woke at sun.
rise and looked out at this beautiful view and
at the great veldt Gt was all alive with game
them, and I said to myself, 'Silas, for five
and twenty years have you wandered about
this great country, and nowyou are getting
tired Of it; you've never seen fairer spot
than this or healthier; now be wise man
and stop here And so did. I bought
5000 .norgen 5000 acres, more or less, for
210 down and case of gin, and !
set to work to make this place, and you
see have made it. Ay, it has grown
under my hand, every stone and tree Of it,
and you know what that means in new
country. But one way and another I have
done it, and now I have got too old to manage
it, and that's how came to give out that
wanted a partner, as old Snow told you dowr
In Durham. You see, told Snow it must be